How to Make a Fabric Seagull

You can make a stuffed fabric seagull or any bird or animal for that matter without a purchased pattern or new materials. I made a seagull in one evening and I will tell you how I did it using only what I had around the house.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper for a pattern
• Stuffing from a pillow
• batting or felt
• White Cotton (from the pillow or old sheet)
• White stretch fabric like a heavy weight t-shirt
• A good photo or drawing of you subject
• Sewing machine
• fabric marker for transfer
• White Thread
• Sharpy marker

1. By looking at the picture of your subject make a silhouette drawing on paper first. Decide what areas you would like to be fuller. To give this silhouette bulk you will need to draw filler strips. The head should be slightly wider than the neck and the body should be significantly wider than the head and neck. Draw 1" to 3" wide strips with V tapered ends for the wider areas. Wings and tail come later.

2. Transfer your drawings to the cotton fabric. Cut two body silhouettes, and singles of each filler strip. Mark on your silhouettes where you would like the filler strips to begin and end. Sew the silhouette edges together including the filler strips. Leave an opening in the body big enough for your hand so you can stuff your bird. Turn right side out and stuff. Stitch the opening closed.

3. Cut two more silhouettes from the stretchy t-shirt fabric, no filler strips necessary, leave an opening so after you turn this right side out it will slip over your gull and function as a smoothing skin. Stitch the opening closed.

4. 
    

   Now create 3 rectangles of layered fabric as follows. Two stretchy T-shirt layers with the batting sandwiched between. Make a wing and tail shape first on paper. Transfer these shapes to the layered rectangles. This time sew before cutting the fabric. Sew on top of you lines. You will not have to turn these right side out, so sew all the way around. Cut along the outside of the stitch line and quickly you have your wings and tails done. Add sewn feather lines if you wish. The edges of these pieces are raw. Tack stitch wings and tail to the body.

5. 
    

   Darken end of beak and wingtips with the marker and your seagull is ready to be sit on a flat surface and keep you company. Add a bow for a Holiday decoration.

Tips & Warnings

• Use old fabrics from kitchen or closet.
• Incorporate words or logos on the old clothes as eco-decorations for your stuffed critter.
• Experience sewers will do this in an evening, but beginners should plan on more time and material just in case.

[Justen]

on 12/15/2008 awesome!